Feed consumption

[Tala]

They are still growing some, so they may eat more than year-old hens, but I agree that's a bit much for food.

My 21 chickens were eating less than 50# in two weeks (a bag per pay period). Actually I've still got a bag in the back of the Explorer from last payday coz I wanted to empty out the can before I put the fresh food in it.
Keep in mind that mine were ranging on the yard and they eat considerably less when ranging.

When I noticed a rat problem I got a Tomcat bait station that I put out of the hen's way in the corner of the coop and that seemed to help a lot. The bait station keeps the poison bait around an "L" shaped tunnel inside of it, so even if the birds stick their heads in the doorway they can't reach the bait. It snaps closed and then has a screw, so they can't knock it open either.

 

[NevadaRon]

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red-pawed

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But what if the chickens eat a poisoned mouse?

I've heard of chickens eating mice before...

 

[Tala]

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red-pawed

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But what if the chickens eat a poisoned mouse?

I've heard of chickens eating mice before...

I've not seen any of them dead, but the poison has been taken.
I have cats, dogs and chickens, but nobody has been secondarily poisoned around here. I think the poison takes a little time to work and they die at home in their nests, but I dunno for sure.

 

[Ohhhdear]

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Yes, it can be rodents. Another reason is the chickens sitting on top of the feeder or waterer and pooping in their food. It really depends on what kind of feed container you use in the coop. There's wall mount feeders and waterers if your coop has room for that type of fixture. My coop doesn't, so the food and water is outdoors.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

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I was having a problem with fuzzy mold under the waterer and spillage of feed getting damp and turning moldy inside the coops.

Also the larger chickens would go to the coops of the bantams and take their feed, making a big mess and pecking at them to show dominance. With the feed and water in the run, all my problems were solved! I take in all food at night.

Yes, also rodents aren't attracted to the inside of the coop too.

 

[DukesAngel]

I would also suspect a rodent problem. My girls go through about 1.5lbs of food a day, so about a bag of feed a month or so. I always remove the food at night as I have found mice in my run before at night while locking up the coop. I'd start by locking up the food and make sure that the feed is kept in tight fitting containers.

 

[gambler]

I am new to chickens and I have 14 RIR. My chickens eat #50 a week. The person that I got them from told me that is how much they ate and I thought he must have a rat problem or something. The first week I had the chickens (new coop new chickens so no mice or rats yet) they ate #50 and I have been going through #50 a week since I got them a month ago. It costs me more to feed 14 chickens that the 4 goats that I have. So yes chickens can eat quite a bit.

 

[NevadaRon]

Here's a strange thing I noticed: I went out to give them feed and the feeder was still at the same level it had been a couple of days before (nearly empty). There is a lot of feed spread around the feeder, too. So I'm thinking maybe they are just slobs and like to spread the feed around and eat it off the ground.

 

[shortstaque]

My mixed flock of 23 was going through 50 lbs every 5 days or so. Then I switched them to their chicken tractor where they have access to fresh pasture every day, they now eat half that much. I have to say they spill an awful lot with the crumbles. Now that they are about to lay, I'm switching them over to layer pellets and curious to see if I lose less feed that way.